Fariz Khalilli

Since 2014 the holiday of the archaeologists has been marking in Azerbaijan in initiative of MIRAS Social Organization in Support of Studying of Cultural Heritage. Every year archaeology festival is held in the Medieval Agsu Town with participation of archaeologists, ethnographs, epigraphs, art historians, as well as volunteers of cultural heritage from Baku, Agsu, Shamakhi, Ismayilli and also local residents.
The exhibition “Urban civilization in early Middle Ages-Mehrevan walled town” was opened in windows and podiums of Juma Mosque in Medieval Agsu Town Archeological Tourism Complex on 29 July, 2016. The exposition reflected the results of archaeological excavations in Mehravan walled town conducted during 2013-2015 years. PhD Fariz Khalilli stated that, rich artefacts – bronze jewellery items, iron tools, agate seals, coins of Rome, Byzantine and Sasanyds; backgammon stones and dice; bone, stone and glass items, pottery trough, etc. are exhibited there. The exhibition will be available in Juma Mosque for a year.
One-act play called “Join us” screened by writer Arzu Soltan and intended for children was performed by pupils from Agsu. This play encourages children to be involved in archaeological researches and ends with students’ starting to conduct archaeological excavations. The performance was played in the main square of Medieval Agsu Town. Students of Ismayilli State Humanitarian and Technological college performed the national dances and MIRAS music group sounded mugham during the event.
At the conference hall of Medievel Agsu Town Archaeological Tourism Complex Prof.Dr. Kubra Aliyeva, epigraph Habiba Aliyeva and archaeologist Elmira Abbasova gave a lecture about “Pottery to Applied art: What Do Ornaments Deal With?”. In this workshop Azerbaijan’s rich history of art, the variety of ornaments and their existence thanks to inheritance were discussed and appropriate questions were answered.
The examples of applied art and new publications belonged to Agsu History and Local Lore Museum and Agsu Central Library were exhibited at this event.
Handicrafts of women from Gagali, Bico and Gashad villages were also exhibited there within the project “The Role of Women in Rural Lifestyle Development” financed by Council of State Support to Non-Governmental Organizations under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan and realized by MIRAS Social Organization in Support of Studying of Cultural Heritage. During this exhibition some of handicrafts were sold by auction.
Artist Vugar Qurbanov gave presents to the participants during the exhibition making some sketches.

The archaeology festival was arranged in the medieval town of Agsu’s Archaeological Tourism Complex on 24 July 2015. Archaeological explorations were launched in Agsu in 2010. Within this period, an area of more than 15,000 sq/m was explored, revealing a part of fortress walls, handicraft estate, mosque, store-house, bath-comples, water supply, and sewer line from Agsu. Also, a 16th-century Khanegah complex in the Shikhmezid quarter was discovered at the same time. For the past three years the Agsu Archaeological Expedition uncovered a 12-hectare area belonging to early Middle Ages near the Bayimli village of Agsu in Mehravan city. The city was one of mighty states in the time of Caucasus Albania. The more interesting finds from Mehravan include Sasanyds, Roman, and Byzantine coins, local Albanian coins, as well as jewelry from various countries via cultural and trade relations proving many facts about Mehravan history.

The Agsu archaeological complex was turned into a world-renowned scientific and tourism center in Azerbaijan.

A photo exposition entitled “Agsu Archaeological Wxplorations—5 years” was arranged for the festival. The chief of the Agsu archaeological expedition, Professor Gafar Jabiyev, handed some of the finds from the medieval Agsu town, Shikhmezid archaeological monument, and Kalagayili village, to the Agsu History and Local Lore Museum on the basis of a relevant act.

The festival’s participants familiarized themselves with the finds from the above-mentioned archaeological areas. The festival also included a mugham concert and poetry contest.

There was a quiz about archaeological science with young archaeologists. Also part of the festival, an inclusive tour was carried out for people with disabilities. A practical exercise will be also held near the Bayimli excavation of Agsu.

MIRAS Social Organization in Support of Studying of Cultural Heritage has implemented project ‘Medieval Agsu Town Archaeological Tourism Complex’ in 2010-2012 years. Medieval Agsu town was the largest city of 18th century and was built towards Mecca. The foundation of the fortress walls was constructed of river stone and the walls of raw brick. 1, 5 hectare area of the city was studied in 5 excavation sites in 2010-2012. In 5 excavation sites ( provisionally 3, 4, 5, 6, 7th sites) there revealed the streets, roads, settlements, handictaft estates, Juma Mosque, bath complex, fortress walls, water reservoirs, ice-store, etc. 3 sites are covered up with the metal construction. Generally, 13 vitrines are installed in the complexes. So, real archaeological tourism object was set up near Ulguj Village of Agsu Town through the project of Medieval Agsu Town Archaeological Tourism Complex. The excavations are ongoing now in Bayimli Village. On 11 July, 2014 a seminar was held in Medieval Agsu Town Archaeological Tourism Complex for Day of Archaeology under slogan “Bridge from Past to Future” with inititave of MIRAS Social Organization. The attendees watched “3D Presentation, Animation and Modelling of Medieval Agsu Town” by Teymur Najafzade at the seminar. Chief of Agsu Archaeological Expedition, Professor Gafar Jabiyev stated strengthening of archaeological exlorations in our country due to special attention and care of the Azerbaijani government and personally President of Azerbaijan Republic. He also shared information on the work done by non-govermental organizations functioned in Azerbaijan, Haydar Aliyev Foundation, SEBA Association, MIRAS Socal Organization in the line of research of our historical and cultural values, conservation and promotion of displayed monuments. The participants commemorated well-known archaeologists, had specials services in reveal of ancient layers of our history- Saleh Gaziyev, Isak Jafarzade, Osman Habibullayev, Mammadali Huseynov, Gara Ahmadov, Ideal Narimanov, Rashid Goyushov, others with one-minute silece. The head of Agsu region Executive Power, Anvar Seyidaliyev, director of ANAS Istitute of Archaeology and Ethnography Maisa Rahimova, Professors Ahmad Gashamoglu, Abbas Seyidov, Shikar Gasimov, deputy director of Az-Granata MMC, Vuqar Mikayilov in their speech informed on successes of Azerbaijani archaeologists during independence years and the outcomes of archaeological explorations and and appreciated glorious and hard work of archaeologists. Chairman of MIRAS Organization, Fariz Khalilli spoke about the work done in the line of research, promotion of Medieval Agsu Town and its recognition internationally. He also gave information about First YOCOCU School for Students and Young Professionals in Agsu in October 2014 on Conservation, Restoration and Management of Archaeological Sites. Independent archaeologist from Peru, Perudan Alvaro Hiqueras thanked the archaeologists and conservators for the work done in archaeological tourism complex and stated his appreciation of the experience. The seminar attendees got acquainted with “Archaeological pearls of Azerbaijan” exhibition. They familiarized comprehensively with the sites which were conserved in Medieval Agsu Town Archaeological Tourism Complex, as well as magnificent 16th century Shikhmazed monument recently revealed and studied this year by Agsu Archaeological Expedition.